Floodwaters Inundate 25 Villages in Habiganj After Embankment Collapse

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Continuous heavy rainfall and an upstream mountain torrent have breached the Khowai River embankment in Habiganj, triggering severe flooding that has submerged at least 25 villages and left hundreds of families stranded. The breach, which occurred late Thursday night near the Kaliganj-Charhamua area in Sadar Upazila, has paralyzed local transportation and devastated residential property.

By Friday, water levels continued to rise, inundating vast stretches of low-lying land and sweeping over secondary roads. The Habiganj-via-Mirpur regional highway has been particularly hard hit; sections near Baiddar Bazar, Sughar, and Bongaon remained under two feet of water by Friday afternoon, effectively severing vital road connectivity.

Local residents reported hearing the sound of the embankment failing around 10:00 p.m. on Thursday. The subsequent surge of water caught many off guard, forcing families to flee to higher ground. As schools and religious institutions in the immediate vicinity also succumbed to the flooding, displaced residents have faced significant challenges in finding secure shelter for children, the elderly, and the infirm.

Initial inspections suggest that the breach spans approximately 300 feet of the levee. Many villagers have pointed to long-standing structural weaknesses in the embankment, claiming that authorities were repeatedly warned about the need for repairs, requests they say went unheeded by the Water Development Board.

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The impact extends beyond residential areas, with agricultural fields across the region now at risk of total destruction. As the water continues to breach the embankment and flow toward the Dhuliakhal-Mirpur road, local officials have warned that the flooding could spread further if water levels do not stabilize.

Additional District Commissioner Moinul Islam stated that the administration is monitoring the situation around the clock. Emergency rescue operations are underway to assist those trapped by the rising waters, and authorities are currently distributing dry food and essential relief supplies to affected families. Efforts to contain the breach and mitigate further damage to infrastructure remain the primary focus of the ongoing response.